Abstract: An array of micro-optical components includes at least two micro-optical components. Each micro-optical component includes a refractive surface and a corresponding compensation surface for the refractive surface. The corresponding compensation surface includes a corresponding compensation feature when the refractive surface deviates from a desired optical performance. The micro-optical component provides the desired optical performance. At least two refractive surfaces of the array of micro-optical components are formed to have substantially a same desired optical performance. The array of micro-optical components includes at least one corresponding compensation feature, at least two compensation surfaces of the array of micro-optical components being different from one another. The compensation surface may be created after measuring the refractive surface.

Abstract: An optical chassis includes a mount substrate an optoelectronic device on the mount substrate, a spacer substrate, and a sealer substrate. The mount substrate, the spacer substrate and the sealer substrate are vertically stacked and hermetically sealing the optoelectronic device. An external electrical contact for the optoelectronic device is provided outside the sealing. At least part of the optical chassis may be made on a wafer level. A passive optical element may be provided on the sealer substrate or on another substrate stacked and secured thereto.

Abstract: A beam homogenizer that minimizes undesired intensity variations at the output plane caused by sharp breaks between facets in previous embodiments. The homogenizer includes a hologram made up of irregularly patterned diffractive fringes. An input beam illuminates at least part of the hologram. The hologram transmits a portion of the input beam onto an output plane. In doing so, the energy of the input beam is spatially redistributed at the output plane into a homogenized output beam having a preselected spatial energy distribution at the output plane. Thus, the illuminated portion of the output plane has a shape predetermined by the designer of the homogenizer.

Abstract: An array of micro-optical components includes at least two micro-optical components. Each micro-optical component includes a refractive surface and a corresponding compensation surface for the refractive surface. The corresponding compensation surface includes a corresponding compensation feature when the refractive surface deviates from a desired optical performance. The micro-optical component provides the desired optical performance. At least two refractive surfaces of the array of micro-optical components are formed to have substantially a same desired optical performance. The array of micro-optical components includes at least one corresponding compensation feature, at least two compensation surfaces of the array of micro-optical components being different from one another. The compensation surface may be created after measuring the refractive surface.

Abstract: Etching in combination with other processing techniques is used to facilitate alignment of an optical die in an optical system. The optical dies are formed on a wafer level and need to be singulated for use in the optical system. The formation of a precise edge from etching allows more accurate alignment of the optical die in the optical system. The other processing techniques include dicing, sawing, cleaving, breaking and thinning.

Abstract: An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers. An active element having a characteristic which changes in response to an applied field may be integrated on a bottom surface of the wafers. The resulting optical system may present a high numerical aperture. Preferably, one of the optical elements is a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.

Abstract: A sub-wavelength anti-reflective diffractive structure is incorporated with a base diffractive structure having a small period to form a high efficiency diffractive structure. In the high efficiency diffractive structure, the anti-reflective structure and/or the base diffractive structure are altered from their ideal solo structure to provide both the desired performance and minimize reflections.

Abstract: An optical transceiver includes at least one light source and at least one detector mounted on the same surface of the same substrate. The detector is to receive light from other than a light source on the surface. At least one of the light source and the detector is mounted on the surface. An optics block having optical elements for each light source and detectors is attached via a vertical spacer to the substrate. Electrical interconnections for the light source and the detector are accessible from the same surface of the substrate with the optics block attached thereto. One of the light source and the detector may be monolithically integrated into the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers, at least one of the two optical elements being a spherical lens. The resulting optical system presents a high numerical aperture. One of the optical elements may be a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.

Abstract: A coupler having fewer individual parts improves manufacturability and scalability. The coupler includes a wavelength selective filter, a first port for propagating at least a first wavelength, a second port for propagating at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a third port for propagating at least the first wavelength and the second wavelength. The three ports are positioned relative to the wavelength selective filter. At least two individual optical elements are also included in the coupler. Each optical element is associated with one of the three ports, between an associated port and the wavelength selective filter. All optical elements needed for directing light between the ports and the wavelength selective filter are provided on at least one of a substrate and substrates bonded thereto.

Abstract: A coupler having fewer individual parts improves manufacturability and scalability. The coupler includes a wavelength selective filter, a first port for propagating at least a first wavelength, a second port for propagating at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a third port for propagating at least the first wavelength and the second wavelength. The three ports are positioned relative to the wavelength selective filter. At least two individual optical elements are also included in the coupler. Each optical element is associated with one of the three ports, between an associated port and the wavelength selective filter. All optical elements needed for directing light between the ports and the wavelength selective filter are provided on at least one of a substrate and substrates bonded thereto.

Abstract: An etalon used in analyzing a wavelength of a light source includes ant etalon only in a portion of a substrate in which the etalon is integrated. Use of such an etalon in monitoring or controlling the wavelength allows the etalon to be placed in an application beam. A portion of the application beam is split into at least two beams, a first beam being directed to the etalon to monitor the wavelength, and the other beam either serving purely as a reference beam or passing through another etalon having a different optical path length than the etalon for the first beam, thereby also monitoring the wavelength. The monitor itself would include at least two photodetector, one for each of the beam split off of the input beam. Any or all substrates containing the elements for the monitor may be created on a wafer level and diced and/or bonded to other wafers containing other elements and diced.

Abstract: Mass production of integrated subsystems may be realized by aligning first and second plurality of dies. The aligned dies are then treated to secure them together. The secured dies are then separated to form a secured pair of dies containing at least one lithographically formed element, thus forming an integrated subsystem. A bonding material may be provided over at least part of each first die, over an entire surface of the wafer or around the perimeter of each first die. Either one of the first or second dies may be provided on a wafer. Either die may contain active elements, e.g., a laser or a detector. The lithographic elements may be formed in the die or may be of a different material than that of the die.

Abstract: An optical subassembly includes an opto-electronic device, an optics block and a spacer, separate from the optics block and providing spacing between the opto-electronic device and the optics block. The opto-electronic device, the optics block and the spacer are aligned and bonded together. This subassembly is particularly useful when coupling light between the opto-electronic device and a fiber. The optical subassembly may also include an opto-electronic device, an optics block and a sealing structure surrounding the opto-electronic device. The opto-electronic device, the optics block and the sealing structure are aligned and bonded together.

Abstract: Gray scale masks used to create optical elements are formed. Desired gray scale patterns may be created by varying a transmission across a mask, e.g., by varying the thickness of a light absorbing layer. Such variations in thickness may be created using multiple binary masks. Desired gray scale patterns may also be created on a computer using available software and then imaged onto film or a glass film plate. Direct contact or proximity printing is then used to transfer the true gray scale pattern onto a photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is then etched, thereby forming the desired pattern therein. All portions of the desired pattern are simultaneously formed in the photoresist layer. The etched photoresist layer is then used to photolithographically fabricate either the optical element itself or a master element to be used in injection molding or other replication techniques. The gray scale mask itself may be used repeatedly to generate photoresist layers.

Abstract: A power monitor for a light emitter uses an absorptive material placed in the path of the application beam. The absorptive has a measurable characteristics thereof altered by an intensity of the light beam, the absorptive material being thin enough to allow a portion of the light beam sufficient for a desired application to be passed to the desired application. Preferably, an anti-reflective coating is placed between the absorptive material and the light emitting device. The absorptive material may be formed directly on the light emitting device or may be formed on or integrated with a spacer.

Abstract: A waveguide to waveguide monitor includes an optics block between the two waveguides. The optics block couples light between the two waveguides and includes at least two parallel surfaces. The monitor also has an optical tap which creates a monitor beam. The optics block may be flush with the endfaces of the waveguides, even if the endfaces are angled. At least two optical elements needed to couple the light between the two optical waveguides and direct the monitor beam on a detector are on the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block and any surfaces secured thereto.

Abstract: Arrays of non-rod shaped optical elements may be integrated with fiber arrays arranged in a positioning structure. The use of non-rod shaped optical elements allow the elements to be lithographically created already accurately aligned relative to one another. This also allows for simultaneous alignment of the array of optical elements with the array of fibers. The arrays may be one or two dimensional. The support structure for the fibers may be any desired structure. The fiber endfaces may be angled. The array of optical elements may include more than one substrate bonded together.

Abstract: An optical coupler reduces differential mode delay in a fiber by reducing an amount of light incident on the fiber in a region in which the refractive index is not well controlled. This region of the fiber is typically in the center of the fiber The optical coupler directs light away from the this region and/or provides a high angle of incidence to any light on this region. A diffuser may be used to reduce sensitivity of the coupler to any fluctutations in the output of the light source. The optical coupler does not need to be offset from the center of the multi-mode coupler. A phase function of an azimuthal mode of the fiber may be imposed on the light beam so that a substantial null on axis is maintained even after propogation of the light beam beyond the depth of focus of the coupler. A diffractive element generating a beam which propogates in a spiral fashion along an axis allows the shape of the beam to be maintained for longer than a depth of focus of the diffractive element.

Abstract: An integrated parallel transmitter includes an array of light sources, a corresponding array of diffractive elements splitting off a portion of the beam to be monitored, a corresponding array of power monitors for respectively monitoring each light source, and an array of couplers that couples light into a corresponding waveguide. The coupler is preferably a phase-matched coupler. All of the passive optical elements are integrated onto a single substrate or a plurality of substrates that have been bonded together on a wafer level.